In mid-September we ventured into the Marble Range to hike to the summit of Mount Bowman (2232 m or 7322 ft).    The hike starts in the valley bottom and follows a creek valley that lies between Mount Bowman and Mad Dog Mountain before climbing a side valley which leads up to a wet meadows, then a dry subalpine karst meadow below the peak.   The final section is a steep route through rock bluffs.

Most of the wildflowers were finished blooming, but a few silene vulgaris (bladder catchfly) had survived the first frosts.   The genus silene is part of the pinks family.   It is native to Europe but has spread throughout North America.

catchfly

It is a common perennial that populates open fields and open woods.    it is listed as a nuisance plant in B.C.

catchfly

Near the top of the mountain were  few false dandelions (nothocalais) still in bloom, even at 7000 feet.

false agoseris

They are also called false agoseris.   With a recent frost, only sheltered plants were still in bloom.

false dandelion

Various seedheads were ready for wind dispersal over the while hike.

In the karst environment, a few ground covers grew on the gravelly slopes.

kinnikinick

Near the top mountain avens formed mats on the rocky slopes and a few other plants have established a foothold in the mats in this harsh, exposed environment.

At the summit, orange crustose lichens (xanthoria) grow slowly below spots where birds perch.   These sunburst lichens benefit from the nutrients of bird guano.

orange crustose lichen

We hiked back down, completing a long day of driving and hiking in the Marble Range.